Loamy
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Grassland State represents the range in variability under natural disturbances such as periodic grazing, fire, and drought. The dominant plant species are warm-season grasses with some forbs and few woody species.
Characteristics and indicators
The reference state is dominated by warm-season tallgrass species. Numerous forbs are present, and woody species canopy is less than 10 percent.
Resilience management
With periodic fire or alternative brush management, the Grassland State can be maintained. Without these drivers, woody species will increase and may begin to dominate ecological functions.
Submodel
Description
The Woody Invaded State occurs when ecological processes such as hydrologic flow, energy flow, and nutrient cycling are controlled by woody species.
Characteristics and indicators
Woody species canopy is higher than 30 percent. Herbaceous community persists in the interspaces but may rapidly decline if grazing pressure remains heavy for long periods.
Resilience management
Depending on the infestation levels, some mechanical and/or chemical treatment may be necessary, along with burning to control woody species. Without any management, the Woody Invaded State can remain relatively stable for long periods depending on the frequency and intensity of wildfires.
Mechanism
Without periodic fire or alternative brush management, woody species may increase in abundance and canopy. This process can lead to mesophication and altering of the hydrology, nutrients, and energy flow of the site. Abusive grazing can also impact this process by limiting fuel loads that impact the effectiveness of fires.
Constraints to recovery
Recovery will depend highly on woody infestation levels and the vigor of remaining herbaceous vegetation.
Mechanism
With the implementation of a brush management strategy and prescribed burning, the woody invaded state may be restored back to a grassland state. Once the woody species are controlled, the energy and nutrient cycling maybe begin to be driven by the herbaceous community once again.
Context dependence
Treatment and restoration methods are highly dependent upon the species present(juniper vs mesquite) and the degree of infestation.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.